Michael Carroll News
California PAGA filings continue to soar amid initiative effort to repeal labor law
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims in California have shot up 34.5% from 2022 to 2023, reaching a record 7,826 PAGA notices last year, according to a new tally of both PAGA and class-action filings by the Ogletree Deakins law firm.
'Call Jacob' personal-injury attorney faces class action alleging predatory fee practices
A former client of Jacob Emrani is suing the Los Angeles personal-injury attorney and his law firm in a proposed class action alleging that unlawful “administrative fees” were charged to help fund the firm’s familiar “Call Jacob” legal advertising.
California sues energy companies over 'climate' problems; 'Kitchen sink' lawsuit a 'political stunt,' industry says
Energy companies say the state's lawsuit is little more than a "meritless, politicized" effort to extract big paydays from oil and gas companies, while accomplishing little to address the alleged problems caused by "climate change"
Constitutional lawsuits could tee up vs LA if voters OK ballot measure forcing hotels to house homeless
Hotel owners warn industry could be gutted and city could face lawsuits, accusing the city of trampling constitutional rights, if city approves ballot measure next spring to force hotel owners to house homeless in vacant rooms, paid only by city vouchers
'Chilling speech of employers in their own business': Pro-union legislation bogs down in Assembly amid criticism
The legislation would bar employers from speaking with their workers about union organizing efforts, and give trial lawyers new powers to sue employers accused of violating the new law for potentially big money damages
Court trims Gascón recall supporters’ access to voter records, but recall supporters call it a win
The committee seeking to recall Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said LA County election officials wrongly spiked their recall petition, and are now wrongly fighting recall supporters' efforts to show why it was improper
Oakland NAACP head calls on city to end 'no-consequences' mindset to crime fighting
A letter co-authored by Oakland NAACP president urges elected leaders to pull the city out of a “doom loop” of rising crime, depopulation and economic stagnation by rejecting a “no-consequences” approach to public safety and “defund the police” rhetoric.
California appeals court's ban on towing cars with parking tickets seen as setback for public safety
A California appeals court has barred municipal government agencies from towing vehicles that have been the subject of multiple unpaid traffic tickets, provided the car is parked legally and is not causing a safety hazard.
California Christian school sues after social services agency bars it from receiving funding
An El Cajon Christian preschool is suing the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), alleging that the agency unconstitutionally barred the school from taking part in a state program to provide food to low-income children.
Jury awards L.A. County prosecutor $1.5M in lawsuit alleging Gascón retaliated for opposing policies minimizing juvenile prosecutions
A Los Angeles jury has awarded a county prosecutor $1.5 million in damages, concluding that District Attorney George Gascón demoted her in retaliation for her questioning of Gascón’s justice reforms.
Legal settlement requires LA County to remove 1.2M 'inactive' voters from rolls
Judicial Watch had sued LA County for not complying with federal law governing when inactive voters should be purged from voter rolls, reducing fears of fraud
Appeals panel says California can't enforce law potentially criminalizing workplace arbitration agreements
The California DOJ says it is still evaluating the decision and hasn't yet decided how it will respond to Ninth Circuit's decision to leave in place an order blocking enforcement of AB51
Civil rights groups back correctional officers' objections to new beard policy
Civil rights groups are calling on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to reconsider a health and safety policy that requires bearded peace officers to shave or face disciplinary action, even if they previously had religious accommodations.
City of Hemet sues Southern California Edison over Fairview Fire damage
A Riverside County city filed a lawsuit this month vs Southern California Edison, arguing the utility’s failure to maintain its electrical infrastructure led to last year’s deadly Fairview Fire.
California sues drug companies, pharmacies over 'inflated' insulin prices; Not true, Eli Lilly says
The California Attorney General's offce said pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have engaged in deceptive business practices that have driven up the cost of insulin for California consumers.
Advocacy group sues Beverly Hills, alleges failure to follow state housing law
A nonprofit group affiliated with the California Association of Realtors is suing the city of Beverly Hills to revamp its residential zoning plans, arguing that the city hasn’t done enough to ensure adequate housing will be built over the next decade.
Disabilities lawsuits hit another new high while plaintiffs attorneys find new strategies
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Lawsuits filed by disabled plaintiffs rose 8.8 percent in 2019 as plaintiffs attorneys continued to churn out novel discrimination complaints, according to the law firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP.